Wasps in the mud on a hot summer day at Walyormouring Nature Reserve

They are the Oscars of wildlife photography — and WA shutterbug Georgina Steytler’s stunning picture of wasps playing in the Goomalling mud has won her one of the coveted gongs in London.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, run by Britain’s Natural History Museum, attract the best natural photographers from across the globe every year. This year, it drew 45,000 entries from 95 countries.

In the Invertebrates Behaviour category, Ms Steytler became the first Australian woman to win in the 54-year history of the awards.

Taken at Walyormouring Nature Reserve, two hours east of Perth, the shot shows industrious female mud-dauber wasps, turning mud into balls to create egg chambers for their nests.

“I was actually there to photograph the birds when I noticed the wasps digging out then carrying off little balls of mud. The most amazing behaviour,” Ms Steytler said.

“I feel so lucky. Not only to get the shot, but then to get it chosen at all. To win, it’s pretty huge.” Tim Clarke